BRISTOL, Tenn. – Like millions of other Canadians, NASCAR driver D.J. Kennington reacted with shock and sadness to last week’s bus accident that killed 16 members of the Humboldt (Saskatchewan) Broncos junior hockey team.

Unlike many others, Kennington has a way to deal with the tragedy in a public and positive way, and he’s taking advantage of that in Sunday’s Food City 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race.

Kennington’s car, which is owned by Marty Gaunt (also from Canada), will carry a hood decal honoring the Broncos in Sunday’s race. The hood, which displays the team’s green logo, will be auctioned after the race to support a fund designed to assist families impacted by the tragedy.

Kennington, 40, lives in St. Thomas. He played junior hockey and now is a member of a local hockey team.

“Being from Canada and being a hockey player myself, I knew we didn’t have anything on the car as far as sponsorship this week,” Kennington said Saturday. “I told Marty I’d like to do something for the boys and girls and everybody from Humboldt, the first responders, the families – everyone involved.

“It’s no different than the racing community when there’s a tragedy,” he said. “Seeing all the support with all the people putting hockey sticks on their front porches and wearing jerseys, it makes me proud to be Canadian. I’m just fortunate to get the opportunity to support them.”